So my job has finally started! Almost three weeks ago, I had my first day as Trainee Account Associate, here in Google’s European headquarters in Barrow Street, Dublin. Since then, there have been a huge amount of information to process, surprising launches to notice, other exciting projects to watch, many nice people to introduce myself to, and loads of great food to consume. Right now, I’m attending my second induction class, and will change over working with my actual team by next week. It’s a pity that I didn’t start a couple of months earlier, otherwise I would have had joined my team – and four thousand (!) others – to head for the EMEA Sales Conference on Rhodes, Greece, and break the Guinness World Record in mass Sirtaki dancing. Congratulations on that!

By the way: My employer is hiring new grads (but not only those) all the time. For instance, they’re looking for a University Programmes Specialist for Germany at the moment. Let me know if you need more information.

So much for work. As for living, I’m happy to have a place to call home again. Paul, a 29-year old advertising manager, and Tricia, a 24-year old legal consultant, have accepted me as their new flatmate in a spacious and fancy – but not too fancy – apartment. My stuff has also arrived already, but I’m still struggling with the amount of cardboxes I need to unpack. (Did I mention Irish apartments to be significantly smaller than German ones?)

The area I live in, Grand Canal Dock, is one of the wealthiest in Dublin. Recently renewed – and still, some construction sites shape the picture –, it is a lively and fancy area to live in. Whilst the office crowd invades the streets on workday mornings and early evenings, it remains pretty calm (some might say: dead) on the weekends, but I like it. The city centre is only 10 minutes away by foot, and Ringsend Park with its great sport sites is just over the bridge. I even found the reasonably nearby branch of Tesco to be an alternative to the still stupefying pricey Fresh market right around the corner. Would you believe a 9-spool package of toilet paper might cost you (*drum roll*) 11.49 Euro? You better do, if you’re in Dublin.

I even had my first celebration abroad: I turned 26 last Saturday, and although I start to feel the big ‘3′ rolling quite intensely on me, I had a great time. Cristina came over from Hamburg, and we spent a terrific night at O’Donoghues pub in Dublin’s city centre, joined by my new flatmate Paul and some of my colleagues. Not to forget my Swedish colleague Martin’s attempt to fall back on his (very) basic German:

Uhm, more stories of life in Dublin to come – betimes.

Oh boy, what an immense effort to get two bicycles transported from one German city to another! Deutsche Bahn courier services offer a subsidized rate with Hermes Logistics – 25 Euros per bike, not including the packaging (”only 5,90 Euros, for a limited time only!”). Aer Lingus charges another 30 Euros for the transport via plane. Ugh. But I really need a bike in those forthcoming first days of living in Dublin, so I can take a look at all the rooms and apartments available on the market.

And another question that bothers me: How on earth will I span the distance between the airport and my temporary accomodation with a packed bike and a heavy case in both hands and a bag around my neck? I guess a cab might be the easiest solution, though I have to admit that I’m usually too avaricious for that.

But at least, I’ve already made contact to some people in Ireland who are looking for new roommates in the surrounding areas of my new place of work. The first appointments are made, and I’m very anxious to see if the offered (”double”) rooms really qualify for a monthly rate between 500 and 1000 Euros…

And for one day, I felt myself thought back to when I was fifteen. Being forced to rely on the bus time table (as Altenberge is located about 14 km from Münster) reminded me of pretty annoying times as an adolescent.

Anyway, this will be over again tomorrow: After a very last Mensa meal with the old colleagues from Radio Q, I’ll take my train and will finally leave my hometown. One week in Hamburg with Cristina lies ahead of me – before really plunging into the unknown.

Notably, my contact with this international relocation specialist – let’s call them “I.” here – assured me the team would visit me in the afternoon, and call at least one hour before they arrived.

Well – reality hit me, when shortly after 8 this morning the bell rang and one (!) relocation guy stood at the door. Luckily, I spent some time preparing most of my stuff yesterday, otherwise this encounter would have been even more awkward. But I have to admit, he was a professional (”I’ve been in this business for 20 years now!”), and packed all of my material existance in boxes in less than one hour. Not bad.

But of course, my former plan were crossed as my bike which was to be repaired before being moved to Dublin wasn’t ready yet this morning. So I have to think about either leaving it in Germany or taking it on the plane by myself. 30 Euros for the transfer with Aer Lingus sound fair to me, though.

Now my room is very empty, as I said, and already shows signs of this objectionable reverb when speaking out loudly. Tomorrow, I’ll disassemble the furniture I’m leaving at my dad’s home, and then this place will look as if I never had lived here. Strange feeling.

I’m counting the hours to leave Münster.